General Assembly 2015

8:03 am

Tue February 3, 2015

The Virginia Senate has shot down legislation to allow people with concealed-carry permits to possess a handgun on school property after normal school hours. The bill applied only to those times when no school-sponsored functions or extracurricular activities were taking place. Questions about how residents would determine which events are school-sponsored were an insurmountable hurdle to some lawmakers.

General Assembly 2015

7:59 am

Fri January 30, 2015

Virginia lawmakers have been mulling over a series of gun bills-and only one gun-control measure has survived a Senate Committee. While the bill has lost some of its teeth, its sponsor says it nevertheless makes progress in the fight against domestic violence.

Senator Barbara Favola's bill was originally defeated. But a Senate Committee reconsidered it and passed a watered-down version that was sent to the Finance panel.

General Assembly 2015

8:09 am

Tue January 27, 2015

A series of gun control measures – fervently backed by Governor McAuliffe - has been defeated by a Republican-controlled Virginia Senate committee.

The Senate Courts of Justice panel voted against bills aimed at beefing up Virginia's gun control laws. The proposals include limiting handgun purchases to one a month and closing the so-called "gun show loophole" that allows sales by private sellers without a criminal background check.

Government & Politics

7:57 am

Tue January 20, 2015

Lines were long at the state capitol Monday as supporters of gun rights passed through security on their way to lobby lawmakers against additional restrictions. They wore stickers that read: Guns Save Lives. Later, supporters of gun control would arrive to press for new laws restricting purchase and possession of weapons.

Hundreds of people came to voice support or opposition to gun control laws. Activist and blogger David Codrea told about 200 people – some openly carrying long-guns – that Governor Terry McAuliffe should not be trusted.

Government & Politics

8:32 am

Mon December 29, 2014

Despite criticism from gun-rights advocates and GOP legislative leaders, Governor McAuliffe is not retreating on a package of gun-control measures that he has proposed for the upcoming General Assembly session. McAuliffe says this was one of his campaign promises, so no one should be surprised.

Conservatives say the Governor is catering to the anti-gun agenda of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose Super PAC donated to his campaign. But McAuliffe says this is about keeping people safe.